Illegally grown coffee threatens tiger habitat in Indonesia

January 18, 2007

Coffee lovers the world over are unknowingly drinking coffee that was illegally grown inside one of the world’s most important national parks for tigers, elephants and rhinos, says WWF.

The illegally grown coffee is mixed by local traders with legal coffee beans and exported from Indonesia to companies such as Kraft Foods, Nestlé, Lavazza and Marubeni, according to the global conservation organization. Neither exporting nor importing companies have mechanisms in place to prevent the trade of illegal beans.

There are several reasons why I don’t like to drink big brand instant coffees (quite apart from the taste!). This is a new one, but I’m not a particularly surprised. Read more here.

[…] coffee news Nestle and Starbucks have responded to the reports that they have purchased coffee grown illegally in Indonesian National Parks. From Coffee and Conservation- Nestlé A spokesman for Nestlé Indonesia made this statement: […]